Improvement in fly-traps



B. NUTTING.

Fly-Trap.

Patented Sept. 7,1875.

N. PETERS, PHO

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUFUS NUTT ING, OF WHEATON, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT 1N FLV-TRAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 167,464, dated September '7, 1875 application filed September 12, 1874.

- vented a Fly-Trap, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to the form of the prison, locality and confinement of baiting,

preventing the external return of flies, fastening of top and bottom together, and man: ner of killing the prisoners over a lamp.

The prison is about four inches high, four broad, and from six to thirty-six inches long, according to the width of the window or other place it is desired to occupy, all increase in length between the extremes causing a proportionate increased efficiency, while an increase of breadth or height causes a decreased efficiency. It is also narrow, so that it can stand upon an ordinary kitchen window-sill, and low that it may not be so easily overturned, and long that it may occupy the entire space beneath a window raised about four inches, and answers for ventilator, screen, and

trap. The upper part of prison may be circular, converginglike the decoy, or plane.

Figure 1 shows the frames A and B, which may be connected together by the pieces O or solid ends 0. Fig. 2 is an elevation view, with the balcony J and a part of the netting removed from the front side, showing the dark entrance K bottom K, strips Gr, decoy-orifices N, central vertical baiting-pins, &c. Fig. 3 is a vertical view of the bottom K, balconies J, fastening-groove L, and baiting-pins. Fig. 4 is a vertical view of my decoy. Fig. 5 is an elevation view of the ends 0, showing clearance and death hole H, &c., the same letters indicating the same parts in all the figures.

The bottom K is about the same length as the prison,but wider, projecting about half an inch on each side, and having its edges bev-- eled, as shown, so that the balconies J attached thereto shall incline toward the prison, to darken or hide the entrance K from the flies feeding in the center of the trap, that they may be less likely to go out, and also to constitute one part of the fastening holding the bottom and top together. About half an inch from the end of the balcony is a groove, L, to admit the beveled ends of the strip G, which constitutes the other part of the fastener attached to the top, to drop down, and, by sliding longitudinally about half an inch, firmly lock the top and bottom together. In a central line of the bottom K are two spurs,

. Y, for holding the bread or other porous substance, which absorbs or prevents the baiting from spreading away from the center, as it does in all other traps, so that the flies shall be drawn farther within to feed; that, after feeding, they may be less likely to notice the entrance, darkened by the balcony J; and that they may be more attracted by the vertical light toward the prison above. The strips G are the same length as the distance between the balconies J, and have their ends beveled to fit between them, as shown. They are about half an inch wide and a fourth thick, and answer the threefold objects of fastener, as described, ends to the dark entrance K and clamps or stiffeners to the ends 0, being attached to them and the lower prison-frame B. The base of the deeoyM is the same form and size as the frame B, to which it is attached, and from which it converges at an angle of about forty-five degrees on both sides and ends to a central ridge or horizontal surface,

in which are several simple thin and smooth edged round holes about three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter, or as small as will admit common house-flies to freely ascend into the prison, but through which it is very difficult, if-not impossible, for them to descend into the decoy. They are made in a horizontal surface or line, simple, clean, and thin-edged, small and round, experience having shown such an arrangement and construction of orifices to be more passable in ascending and much more difficult to descend through than orifices in a corrugated, zigzag, or uneven surface, or hav ing ragged, spurred, or flanged edges, or having a tubular or conical entrance or way to them from beneatl1,or oblong holes or orifices, as is the case with other traps. The ends of the decoy are converging, like the sides, for greater efticiency and symmetry, and the oridoes, being in a horizontal surface and simple holes, can be readily seen from any point un der the decoy, attractive as passages toward the vertical light. In one of the ends 0 is a death or cleaner hole, H, about the size of the top of a lamp-chimney, which is closed by a heat from a lamp may pass into the prison for killing the flies, (after Winding paper around it to retain the heat,) when used in shops, 850.,

where there is no hot oven convenient.-

I am aware that oblong fly-trap prisons, vertical, and two to four times their width in height, and consequently having the objections obviated by the form of my prison; that balconies attached to the bottom, and standing vertically or outwardly-inclined; that spurs for holding the baiting substance itself, so that animals, in attempting to carry it off or eat it, shall spring the trap upon them in animal-traps; that the top and bottom have been fastened together by two pins,

requiring one at each end or side alike, or one pin reaching through both sides; that oblong decoys with vertical ends, perpendicular from the bottom, inviting an attempt to,

and easy Way of, escape from the prison, and unsymmetrical in appearance; that conical decoys, With one or more conical apexes terminating in a large round hole with smooth edge, or in one or more oblong orifices through which flies can easily ascend or descend, or

with a ragged or spurred hole difficult to pass either Way; that oblong decoys, with several conical holes in their ridge, leaving a corrugated or zigzag surface or space between.

them; that square decoys, or others, with tubular orifices, easy of ascent or descent,

have all heretofore been made, and I do not 7 claim any of them; but

What I do claim is- 1. A fly-trap prison having the death-hole H and gauze stopper I in the end 0, constructed and combined substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The inclined balconies J, having the grooves L, in combination with the strips G,

attached to the prison A B, substantially as described.

3. A trap for flies, consisting of the frame A B 0, covered with suitable material, having a death-hole, I, provided with the bottom G, sliding between the balconies J, and provided With upright spurs to receive the bait.

RUFUS NUTTING.

Witnesses:

D. M. JOHNSTON, JOHN 'D. N UTTING. 

